Review of High Anxiety (2003)

by Ken McGrath for Sorted magAZine (June 24th, 2003)

From the opening strains of Hey Satan—You Rock, it’s clear that Therapy? have done it again. Lean back, crack open a beer and let this wash over you. High Anxiety is the eighth album proper from the best thing ever to come out of Northern Ireland and it rocks like a proper motherfucker.

It’s got all the attitude of Babyteeth, the charm of Troublegum and the sneering darkness of Suicide Pact—You First. Therapy? are back on form.

It’s got all the attitude of Babyteeth, the charm of Troublegum and the sneering darkness of Suicide Pact—You First. Therapy? are back on form. Who Knows is a heady, punky bastard of a song that sways around drunk, pulling pictures off your walls and spitting on your floor. Stand In Line, meanwhile, is a fuzzy overdriven charmer that opens out into a chorus that slaps one of those gigantic, stupid, happy grins on your face. Soon to be a live favourite? I think so. It’s as if Therapy? have managed to suck out all that was great about Troublegum and crush it into three minutes and twenty seconds.

First single, If It Kills Me is T? at their best. Rocking, but held back enough to hit twice as hard when the chorus flies in. Andy’s voice has improved so much as time has passed and the proof is right here. The addition of Neil Cooper on the drum stool is a stroke of genius too. His drumming is much closer to Fyfe Ewing’s style than Graham Hopkins’ was. It’s all choppy, serrated patterns. Closing track Rust is a riff-tastic romp in the park, a big finisher. So get your heads down and let those fingers fly. Therapy? are back in town.

Other Reviews of ‘High Anxiety’

Related Interviews